The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Oedema of ankles can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like oedema of ankles here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here oedema of ankles is often associated with sore back, poor appetite and sore knees in the pattern “Oedema”. As you will see below, we have in record four patterns that can cause oedema of ankles.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of oedema of ankles we’ve identified four herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat oedema of ankles.
The four "patterns of disharmony" that can cause oedema of ankles
In Chinese Medicine oedema of ankles is a symptom for 4 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
Water Plantain (Ze Xie) is the king ingredient for Wu Ling San, a formula used for Oedema
Oedema
Pulse type(s): Slowed-down (Huan), Hidden (Fu)
Tongue coating: Thick white coating
Oedema manifests itself as swellings due to the retention of Body Fluids. Chinese Medicine believes that it originates from the leaking of Body Fluids from their normal pathways into the space between skin and muscles.
In addition to oedema of ankles, other symptoms associated with Oedema include sore back, poor appetite and sore knees.
Oedema is often treated with Wu Ling San, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Water Plantain - Ze Xie - as a key herb). Wu Ling San belongs to the category of "formulas that promote urination and leach out dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Promotes urination,".
Crow-Dipper Rhizomes (Ban Xia) is the king ingredient for Er Chen Tang, a formula used for Phlegm
Phlegm
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Sticky coating, Thick coating
Tongue shape: Swollen
The concept of Phlegm is much wider and important in Chinese Medicine than in the West. Broadly speaking, Phlegm is a substance produced when the body fails to handle Body Fluids properly.
In addition to oedema of ankles, other symptoms associated with Phlegm include dizziness, poor appetite and irritability.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Phlegm is associated with health issues such as Low Breast Milk Supply, Late Menstruation or Scanty Menstruation.
Phlegm is often treated with Er Chen Tang, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Crow-Dipper Rhizomes - Ban Xia - as a key herb). Er Chen Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that dry dampness and transform phlegm", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Dries Damp and dispels Phlegm".
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney Yang Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Pale
Tongue shape: Swollen
Kidney Yang Deficiency causes Internal Cold and weakness.
In addition to oedema of ankles, other symptoms associated with Kidney Yang Deficiency include dizziness, night sweats and hot flushes.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Kidney Yang Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Late Menstruation, Menopausal Syndrome or Irregular Menstruation.
Kidney Yang Deficiency is often treated with Ba Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Ba Wei Di Huang Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that nourish yin and tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Tonifies Yang".
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Weak (Ruo)
In addition to oedema of ankles, other symptoms associated with Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing include palpitations, cold feeling in the legs and the back and feeling of cold.
Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing is often treated with Wu Ling San, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Water Plantain - Ze Xie - as a key herb). Wu Ling San belongs to the category of "formulas that promote urination and leach out dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Promotes urination,".
Read more about Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing here
Four herbal formulas that might help with oedema of ankles
Wu Pi Yin
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Reduces edema, diuretic. Regulates and strengthens Spleen Qi.
Why might Wu Pi Yin help with oedema of ankles?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Oedema' of which oedema of ankles is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Oedema include sore back, poor appetite and sore knees.
Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Warms and transforms Phlegm-Fluids. Strengthens the Spleen. Resolves Dampness.
Why might Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang help with oedema of ankles?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Phlegm' of which oedema of ankles is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Phlegm can contribute to many health issues, including Menopausal Syndrome.
Shen Qi Wan
Why might Shen Qi Wan help with oedema of ankles?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which oedema of ankles is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Kidney Yang Deficiency can contribute to many health issues, including Menopausal Syndrome.
Wu Ling San
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Promotes urination,. Warms the Yang. Strengthens the Spleen. Promotes Qi transformation function. Drains Dampness. Clears edema.
Why might Wu Ling San help with oedema of ankles?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing' of which oedema of ankles is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Kidney Yang Deficiency With Water Overflowing include palpitations, cold feeling in the legs and the back and feeling of cold.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat oedema of ankles
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with oedema of ankles?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat oedema of ankles as a symptom, like Wu Pi Yin or Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang for instance.
Poria-Cocos Mushrooms is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart, the Kidney and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit.
Why might Atractylodes Rhizome (Bai Zhu) help with oedema of ankles?
Because Atractylodes Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat oedema of ankles as a symptom, like Zhen Wu Tang or Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang for instance.
Atractylodes Rhizomes is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen Qi. Fortifies the Spleen Yang and dispels Damp through urination. Tonifies Qi and stops sweating. Calms restless fetus when due to Deficiency of Spleen Qi.
Why might Cinnamon Twig (Gui Zhi) help with oedema of ankles?
Because Cinnamon Twig is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat oedema of ankles as a symptom, like Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang or Shen Qi Wan for instance.
Cinnamon Twigs is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Adjusts the nutritive Ying and defensive Wei Qi. Relieves the Exterior through sweating. Warms and disperses Cold. Removes obstruction of Yang. Promotes the circulation of Yang Qi in the chest. Regulates and moves blood.
Why might Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) help with oedema of ankles?
Because Prepared Aconite is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat oedema of ankles as a symptom, like Zhen Wu Tang or Shen Qi Wan for instance.
Prepared Aconite is a Hot herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart and the Kidney.
Its main actions are: Raises the collapse of Yang. Warms the meridians and relieves pain caused by Cold. Reduces Damp caused by Deficiency in Yang.
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with oedema of ankles?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat oedema of ankles as a symptom, like Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang or Ping Wei San for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Stomach, the Heart and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Conditions associated with oedema of ankles
Other symptoms often associated with oedema of ankles
Dizziness Night sweats Hot flushes Tinnitus Sore back Dry throat Poor appetite Malar flush Dry mouth Dry skin